This tutorial shows how to update XFree86 server to a newer version on Linux Mandrake 8.0.
If you are using another distribution, differences are minimum: packages's names may
be different in version and extension and you have to use the command rpm
-ivh instead of urpmi.

I assume that you have all rpm packages of new XFree86 version you need and you are logged
as root outside X session (best way to do this is boot Linux and write
linux 3 at the Lilo's prompt, pushing Esc key for switch from graphic to
text mode, then logging as root). There are many ways to do the same thing,
so you can choose others to obtain the same result, this is only the first comes in my
mind:

3) Now you must create static link to the new X server, removing old one; so move
to /etc/X11, write rm X then ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin/XFree86
X.

4) Well, now the last step. It is necessary a new configuration file for XFree86
only just installed; it is named XF86Config-4 located in
/etc/X11. You can copy my
XF86Config-4 or create a new one by any tools you prefer. Now use startx
to try new X server.

That's all; please take a look to my XF86Config-4 file for changes
necessary to your system. My example file is for a notebook with SiS 630 chipset and a
13'' LCD, and it must contain in Device section fbdev as
driver, otherwise X doesn't boot. If you are interested to SiS chipsets, please go in
the specific section in the Linux menù: there are many news to make your video
system working better.